Police Officer Involved Domestic Violence.
Lighting a candle of remembrance for those who've lost their lives to domestic violence behind the blue wall, for strength and wisdom to those still there, and a non-ending prayer for those who thought they had escaped but can't stop being afraid.

POLICE OFFICER ACCUSED OF SEX ASSAULTS
The Orange County Register
By Annie Burris and Andrew Galvin
March 18, 2010
[Excerpts] Prosecutors have filed new charges of rape and forcible sodomy against a Huntington Beach police officer who was already facing 17 charges of physically abusing his former wife and girlfriend. James Roberts III pleaded not guilty to all 20 counts against him, including three new ones that were added after he was initially charged in September. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for April 28. The initial 17 charges against Roberts included false imprisonment, threats, domestic battery, aggravated assault, dissuading a witness by force or threat and vandalism. The three new accusations – spousal rape by force, sodomy by force, and forcible rape – involve the same two victims as the earlier charges, said Farrah Emami, a spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney's Office... On March 10, a woman claiming to be Roberts' ex-girlfriend filed a claim against the city of Huntington Beach alleging that the city, the police chief, and several officers conspired to cover up the alleged abuse. It's the second such claim filed against the city based on Roberts' alleged conduct. Roberts' former wife filed a claim Sept. 24 and a lawsuit against the city on Nov. 24 with similar allegations. The claim by the ex-girlfriend alleges that Roberts sexually, physically, and verbally abused her. She claims he caused her emotional distress and physical injury. The lawsuit by Robert's former wife details abuse including rape, destruction of furniture and a family picture, and assault in front of the couple's son... The ex-girlfriend's claim said calls to 911 and reports to the Huntington Beach Police Department were "ignored," the city failed to discipline Roberts and conspired to cover up the abuse... [Full article here]

A Huntington Beach police officer charged with 17 felony counts for abusing his wife and girlfriend has been let go after a nearly six-month internal investigation, the police chief said Monday night.

James Roberts III was let go last week after being on administrative leave for several months, Police Chief Ken Small said.

“We concluded our internal investigation and he is no longer a member of the police department,” Small said.

Small said he couldn’t discuss why Roberts was let go, citing personnel issues.

Roberts was charged in February with a series of physical abuses against his ex-wife and threatening to kill her at least once after an investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Orange County district attorney.

While still married, he allegedly had a girlfriend, whom he is also accused of assaulting.

Roberts was arrested in September, but the Huntington Beach Police Department was asked by the other agencies to hold its internal investigation until they completed their own. The department began an internal investigation in October.

During that time, Roberts has been on administrative leave collecting a full paycheck of $7,275 a month.

The department completed its investigation in late February, but came to its final decision last week.

Roberts pleaded not guilty Feb. 26 to eight counts of false imprisonment by violence or deceit, three counts of criminal threats, two counts of domestic battery with corporeal injury, two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of dissuading a witness and vandalism.

The charges hold a maximum sentence of 14 years in state prison. Roberts has been out on $250,000 bail and is expected to begin pre-trial 8:30 a.m. Thursday in Courtroom C-55 at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.